Euthanasia charity helps Briton die

A terminally-ill man has become the latest Briton to die with the assistance of a controversial Swiss euthanasia charity.

IT consultant John Close, 54, was diagnosed with degenerative motor neurone disease two-and-a-half years ago and researched the work of Dignitas via the Internet.

He died in Zurich earlier this week in the presence of friends and family, managing to summon the strength to push a syringe-full of barbiturates into a feeding tube that he has been attached to for the last eight months.

Today his sister, Lesley Close, who was at his side when he died, said she fully supported his actions and also that of Dignitas which is currently under investigation by the Zurich Public Prosecutor.

"He managed to summon the strength to push the plunger himself, which is amazing as he could barely move his arms and hands.

"After two or three minutes he slipped into a sleep, and then a deeper, dignified and peaceful sleep."

At his side with Ms Close was Michael, her partner and also a long-term friend of divorcee Mr Close, from Milton Keynes.

"We held each other when he died and cried because we were sad at the condition he had and also at what he had been forced to do.

"I have no doubts whatsoever that he did the right thing. It was his right to take his own life.

"I am frustrated and angry that he had to fly to Switzerland to do it. He wanted to go looking out the bay window at home at his favourite view of a sunset, not in some strange country."